Chapter 1
Chapter 1
A very unusual girl came to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.
Her name was Lin Zihan, and she walked through the doors on her own.
No one had dragged her here. The moment she came in, she announced that she wanted to become a courtesan queen, declaring that she would be the number one girl at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.
“I will become an unparalleled legend of this era, a myth future generations can only look up to and envy.
“Give me time, and I will become the top girl. Warlords will all fall at my feet. Once I land a warlord, this place will have a backer too.”
Madam was so amused she could hardly contain herself. The look she gave the girl practically said, “Such a pretty thing. Shame her head’s broken.”
We leaned over the railing upstairs to watch the show, and we found it funny too.
In Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, the only one who could be called the top girl was probably Hongying. She had the most striking looks and a fiery temper, and somehow, those wealthy patrons adored exactly that. The rest of us couldn’t imitate her even if we tried.
Even so, she had never managed to hook any warlord. The highest official she had ever served was a circuit intendant, and that was already impressive enough to make people gasp.
Hearing Lin Zihan spout such nonsense, the sisters all crowded around Hongying and teased her.
“The new girl is going to steal Sister Hongying’s spotlight! You’ll have to show her what a real top girl looks like later!”
Hongying looked down at the floor below and spat. “Pah! These days, any rotten little thing dares come and steal my thunder. If she gets famous, I’ll take her surname myself!”
With that, she twisted her waist and went back to her room.
Lin Zihan claimed both her parents were dead and that she had no one left in the world. She said she was entrusting the rest of her life to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, and with crisp efficiency, she signed the indenture contract selling herself over.
Madam thought the name Lin Zihan sounded too strange and wouldn’t attract customers, so she said to her, “Since you’re set on becoming the top girl, let’s give you a top girl’s name and borrow a bit of luck!”
That very day, a name plaque was hung for her in the building. Written on it was “Xiao Wan.”
During the daytime, while the doors were closed, Xiao Wan took a walk around the building.
She looked down on us. Whenever she passed by, the contempt on her face was plain and undisguised.
She stopped in front of one wall. A large, uneven patch of beauty posters had been pasted over it-advertisements from cigarette companies, movie posters of actresses. The women in the pictures were gorgeous and captivating, each with her own allure.
That wall faced the main entrance. Patrons saw it the moment they came in. It was only there to spin them a dream.
Sometimes, we would stare at those pictures in a daze too.
Who didn’t want to live a respectable life, adored and surrounded by admirers?
But Xiao Wan looked at that wall with disdain. “How vulgar. It drags down the whole atmosphere. Can’t you tear them off?”
“Just leave them there. There are scorch marks underneath. They don’t look nice, so it’s prettier covered up.” Qiuyue was the only one who answered her.
Qiuyue was sewing a padded jacket. She was different from the rest of the women here. She had a husband and a son, and had once been a woman from a decent, clean background.
To make money so her husband could buy an official post, she had voluntarily hung her name plaque at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion and sold herself.
The jacket in her hands was for her son.
Xiao Wan glanced at her. “You’re dressed so old-fashioned, and you can still do this kind of work? Who would even like you?”
Qiuyue had a good temper. She did not get angry. She only lifted her head and gave her a calm look, then lowered it again and went on sewing.
“Do you think this is some good place? Take my advice. While they aren’t watching you too closely, hurry and run. Don’t come back.”
Xiao Wan rolled her eyes so hard they nearly went to the heavens. “Auntie, don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. You’re just afraid I’ll steal your customers because I’m young and pretty. How could a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan? I came here to become a warlord’s concubine. As for you-”
She looked Qiuyue up and down, making provocative little tsking sounds. “Have you even looked at how old you are? The wrinkles at the corners of your eyes could crush flies. You’re only fit to serve hoodlums and thugs. Don’t worry, Auntie. I won’t be stealing your business.”
After she finished, she seemed to think herself very funny and burst out laughing.
Qiuyue was clever with her hands. She had once made me a blouse, comfortable and pretty.
For the sake of that blouse, I had to stand up and say a word for her. I couldn’t just let someone bully her.
I leaned over the railing and looked down. “Qiuyue is saying it for your own good. It’s fine if you don’t appreciate it, but why be so vicious? Which powerful old family doesn’t have strict rules? I’ve never heard of one that would carry a lowly, sharp-tongued wretch through the door as a concubine. If you have time to mock other people, you might as well temper that personality of yours and think about how to please the officials-wait any longer, and it’ll be too late. You’ll grow old too. Youth doesn’t fetch a good price for many years.”
She was still too inexperienced. A few words from someone else were enough to make her lose face. Her cheeks flushed red with anger, and she looked up at me. “It’s none of your business!”
I could not bring myself to get angry at a little girl like that, so I kept talking to her. “You look like you came from a decent family too. Why insist on doing this work?”
A look of yearning appeared on her face.
“It’s actually very beautiful. You people don’t understand. In troubled times, stories between warlords and prostitutes are so stirring and romantic. Shanghai’s ten-mile foreign concession, the romance, the glamour-the Republican era means heart-stopping love. Every girl can meet her own young marshal… It’s truly beautiful!”
The few of us sisters looked at one another. Not one of us knew how to respond.
She went back to her room in high spirits. Hongying let out a cold laugh.
“Kind words can’t save a ghost determined to die. She’s asking for it. Let her get a good look at just how beautiful Drunken Fragrance Pavilion really is.”